The Car Connection Expert Review

Is
this the shape of the future? The new Pacifica very well may be for those in
search of an alternative to the oft-maligned minivan.

The upcoming debut of the new Chrysler “people carrier”
coincides with the 20th anniversary of the
introduction of the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models. Those two
Chrysler products were the ultimate in form defining function, offering plenty
of seating and storage space, redefining the way U.S. families drive.

2004 Chrysler Pacifica

Over the years, almost every automaker has attempted to
crack Chrysler’s code and come up with a competitive minivan though, until
recently, the number three automaker seemed unstoppable, controlling more than
half the market. Suddenly, that’s begun to shift. Honda was the first to figure
out the formula, with its hot-selling Odyssey minivan. And others, such as the
all-new Sienna coming shortly from Toyota, threaten to drive Chrysler off its
throne.

Complicating matters is the fact that while the minivan
may be functionally best-in-class, it is a choice many customers make while
holding their noses. The familiar “one-box” design has lost its cachet and
become something of a joke, even for some of its most loyal customers. And many
of those who can opt for an alternative, such as the SUV, are jumping at the
chance. That’s where the Pacifica comes along.

Minivan-esque

The basic shape is familiar, but it’s not a case, as
Yogi Berra might say, of “déjà vu all over again.” The ’04 Pacifica sits lower
and wider. It’s got a bit of the sport-ute in its broad-shouldered stance and
hood. There’s some machismo in this design, which is meant to provide an
antidote to the minivan’s derided soccer mom image.

Chrysler calls the new vehicle a “cross tourer,” a name
that not only doesn’t roll off the tongue very
easily, but which doesn’t tell
you much of anything about the new vehicle. Okay, it does hint that the Pacifica
is one of the many new, so-called crossover vehicles flooding the market. Think
of it as a cross between a sport-utility vehicle, a minivan and, yes, the
classic family wagon, a product even more maligned than the minivan.

Names and segments really shouldn’t matter when it comes
to a product that does so much —
and so well.

The exterior is handsome and solid. The look is more
muscular than a minivan, but not as truck-like as a typical ute. The large
grille, stretched Chrysler winged badge and sparkling headlamps are designed to
suggest the stylish 300M sedan. A modicum of chrome, notably the bright bumper
caps, are tasteful but imply an upscale elegance. One significant difference
from a minivan is that the Pacifica does away with the segment’s standard
sliding doors. The new Chrysler does, however, offer an optional, powered
tailgate for easy access to its yawning cargo compartment.

As already noted, the Pacifica is wide: nearly 80
inches, to be precise, giving it as much as six inches of added shoulder room
over a broad array of potential competitors from the minivan, sport-ute and
crossover segments. At 198.9 inches in length, it’s also got nearly a foot over
such alternative as the Audi allroad and Volvo XC90. Sitting at 66.5 inches
height, it’s lower than a minivan, so you lose that walk-through ability, but
there’s still plenty of headroom.

Cabin buoy

2004 Chrysler Pacifica

You’ll discover one of the most attractive features of
the new car literally as you’re getting inside. Unlike a wagon, you don’t have
to lower yourself in. Unlike an SUV or minivan, you don’t have to climb up. You
just sort of slide onto the seat, which is still high enough to give you a
commanding view of the road.

But it’s the interior that will likely win you over.
Like a minivan, the Pacifica offers three-row seating for six. The back row is
functional, though most likely to be used for kids. The middle seats, however,
prove that “just because you’re in the second row, doesn’t mean you’re a
second-class citizen,” says designer Joe Dehner. They’re as comfortable as those
up front and also come up with “butt warmers” with the optional Winter Package,
along with a standard rear heating control.

Each of the second and third row seats, by the way, fold
flat, providing a cavernous cargo compartment. There are even fold-away covers
for the seat backs to prevent them from being scratched up.

2004 Chrysler Pacifica

The Pacifica, along with the new two-door Crossfire
sports car, is meant to help redefine the Chrysler brand, moving it more
upscale. That’s underscored by the refinement of the interior. The choice of
materials is surprisingly elegant, with satin silver inserts and probably the
best wood-like panels Chrysler has offered. The exterior shapes are echoed
inside, leading your eye to an attractive yet functional center stack and a
driver-oriented instrument panel.

There’s a great sound system in that center stack, the
base audio package boasting a seven-speaker, 200-watt Infinity AM/FM/CD player.
There’s an optional surround sound upgrade, as well as a top-line DVD package,
with a seven-inch rear-mounted LCD screen and two wireless headsets. That’s
designed to let the kids watch Sponge Bob while the adults up front have their
own audio entertainment.

Another neat and unique feature is the optional
navigation system, the first to place its video monitor right in the instrument
panel. It’s neatly merged in with the speedometer. The position is perfect for
giving a quick glance down at the map or turn-by-turn directions without getting
distracted from what’s happening on the road. And programming the optional
system is reasonably easy.

High-speed connection

There are relatively few options available on Pacifica.
But one coming by summer has been dubbed uConnect. It allows you to carry your
own Bluetooth-equipped cellphone onboard then access the built-in, hands-free
speaker and microphone system. (Bluetooth is a new standard for a short-range
radio system that can link a myriad of high-tech hardware, including cellphones,
computers, and PDAs.)

Slip behind the wheel and you immediately get the sense
this is going to be more fun than driving a minivan. The standard fare is a
ten-way power seat for the driver, along with adjustable pedals.

During a long day of driving through the countryside
east of San Diego, we discovered that the Pacifica largely lives up to its
promise. Its 3.5-liter V-6 has reasonable pulling power, though it did gasp for
breath a bit on steep climbs at higher altitudes. Indeed, if we had one area to
complain about with the Pacifica, it was the vehicle’s powertrain. Under hard
acceleration, the engine was raspy and surprisingly loud, all the more
surprising in a vehicle that is otherwise noteworthy for the quietness of its
cabin.

We’ll hope for an optional engine upgrade and we’d
definitely prefer a five-speed automatic, quickly becoming a norm for a vehicle
of this type, rather than the four-speed offered.

Chrysler will provide two packages, meanwhile, a
front-drive version and one with all-wheel drive, the latter expected to
dominate demand. Both seem sure-footed, and the front-driver gets standard
traction control to enhance its grip. Company planners opted against offering a
stability enhancement system, but are revisiting that decision. We hope it will
be added, at least as an option, in the not-too-distant future. It provides yet
another level of safety and control for a vehicle designed to haul that most
precious of cargo – your family.

The Pacifica’s long, low and wide package gives it a
solid grip on the road. The suspension soaks up the road bumps, yet the driver
maintains a clear sense of road feel. It helps that the rear suspension has been
lifted, all-but-whole, from the highly-regarded new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan.
Up front, the Pacifica utilizes a MacPherson strut design with an isolated
subframe. We expect little issue with rollovers. Nonetheless, Chrysler has
quietly equipped the Pacifica with standard, three-row head air curtains that
stay inflated to provide protection just in case the vehicle does tip over.

Company officials stressed their intent to make the
Pacifica the most comfortable, reliable and highest-quality vehicle in its
segment. We’ll have to wait to see what the Pacifica is like when it starts
rolling off the line in sizable volume. But initial indications suggest they’re
living up to their promise.

The simple fact is, this car moves Chrysler a sizable
step ahead. It boasts a new level of refinement, a solid drive and surprising
comfort, along with near-minivan levels of room. We do have a few gripes, but
they’re more than offset by the Pacifica’s other attributes. We expect this
vehicle to be a solid hit when it rolls into showrooms this spring, and will
unquestionably place it on our own list of recommended vehicles.